The Acting Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Caroline Damian, has officially launched the Cancer Registration Advisory Committee (ACCR), a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening cancer registration efforts in Tanzania through the development of population-based cancer registries and the collection of reliable data.
The launch ceremony took place today, May 21, 2025, in the capital city, Dodoma. The committee brings together representatives from various government institutions, international partners such as Vital Strategies, the African Cancer Registry Network (AFCRN), the World Health Organization (WHO), and members of the public, including cancer survivors.
Dr. Damian explained that the main committee will convene twice a year, while five technical subcommittees based at Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), Bugando Medical Centre, Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), and Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital will meet quarterly to coordinate regional efforts.
She emphasized the urgent need for accurate cancer data, noting that currently, only about 10.5% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa is covered by population-based cancer registries.
In Tanzania, the absence of a comprehensive national cancer registry limits the ability to monitor the true burden of the disease.
“The committee’s core mandate includes advising on effective methods for cancer data collection, analyzing trends in incidence and mortality, recommending evidence-based policies, overseeing implementation, and ensuring that the data is available for policymakers, researchers, and development partners,” said Dr. Damian.
She also referenced data from the Global Cancer Observatory, which estimated that Tanzania reported approximately 42,000 new cancer cases and 28,000 cancer-related deaths in 2020. Projections show that cancer incidence in resource-limited settings such as Tanzania is expected to double over the next two decades a trend that underscores the urgent need to strengthen surveillance and control systems.
“This initiative marks a significant step forward in our efforts to combat cancer through informed decision-making and coordinated national action,” she added.